January 29, 2010 - 3:30am
ANNAPOLIS, Md. - Maryland lawmakers are continuing to push for legislation to help stop domestic violence cases in the state.
Fifty-three people died as the direct result of domestic violence in Maryland in 2009. After a ceremony to honor them in Annapolis next week, lawmakers will begin working on the Safe Homes Act of 2010.
The law aims to give those living with domestic violence a safe way to remove themselves from a bad relationship.
"[The bill will] provide an option for changing locks, another is to provide an option for getting out of lease if the person feels they are not safe staying there," says Michele Cohen with the Maryland Network Against Domestic Violence.
Another bill would try to give additional help to people when a protective order is violated.
The bills will help expand laws already passed in October 2009 that calls for the removal of firearms from a home if a protective order has been issued.
Over half of the 53 people who died as the result of domestic violence in Maryland last year were killed with firearms.
Cohen says that while it is too early to distinguish whether or not the October 2009 law has had a positive effect, the numbers of domestic violence deaths in the state dropped from 2008 to 2009.
WTOP's Kate Ryan contributed to this report.
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